Cranks but won't fire

[tzbang]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Supply voltage drop. If the starter struggles, lights dim, blah blah...

Well, at least it's a hard failure somewhere. Sounds like you have spark. Do you hear the main fuel pump run when first turning on ignition? Fuses all good?

Yeah I hear the fuel pump prime. I can smell fuel when trying to start it continuously. All the wee coloured fuses are good under the bonnet.. I mean, the hood.

I have heard that when the plugs are fouled up, it's near impossible to get started. I think perhaps I flooded the motor moving it a short distance. Then left it and the fuel evaporated leaving the plugs fouled. But I'm still surprised that it doesn't ignite at all. I suppose I have to try and pull a plug out and look.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by tzbang

Yeah I hear the fuel pump prime. I can smell fuel when trying to start it continuously. All the wee coloured fuses are good under the bonnet.. I mean, the hood.

I have heard that when the plugs are fouled up, it's near impossible to get started. I think perhaps I flooded the motor moving it a short distance. Then left it and the fuel evaporated leaving the plugs fouled. But I'm still surprised that it doesn't ignite at all. I suppose I have to try and pull a plug out and look.

Flood-clearing mode is effective. I am also surprised. ...and skeptical.

The Queen's English is quite nice. Boots, bonnets, and extra vouwelues are just fine.

[blsfrs]

What is the voltage in your battery? A dead or dying cell may give you enough power to turn the engine over but not start the car. Even if you try to jump it, you may be trying to push voltage through a dead cell.

[WNDSRFR]

That's not the way it works. When you jump the battery, it is connected in parallel not series. Even if the car battery is completely dead, or not even connected at all, it doesn't make a difference. If the jumper battery is good, the car will crank. It might not start but the starter will turn over the engine.

[tzbang]

Originally Posted by WNDSRFR

That's not the way it works. When you jump the battery, it is connected in parallel not series. Even if the car battery is completely dead, or not even connected at all, it doesn't make a difference. If the jumper battery is good, the car will crank. It might not start but the starter will turn over the engine.

I think that is what he means.. the engine would crank over but not start. Is that actually correct though? I mean, the battery is a bit old and crap — but it cranks over fine. At least 5 or 6 times before it goes flat.

I've had it connected up to a jumper battery in spare car (running) and it still wouldn't start.

Surely the battery can't be the problem? I suppose I could swap the battery out completely if you thought it might be?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by tzbang

Surely the battery can't be the problem? I suppose I could swap the battery out completely if you thought it might be?

For how long does it crank really well? Does it crank hard, like a fully charged battery for the first couple seconds, or does it start out sagging even a little bit?


NVM... I went back and read again. You already said you get five or six good strong cranking cycles from a full charge. I don't think it's the battery.

[tzbang]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

For how long does it crank really well? Does it crank hard, like a fully charged battery for the first couple seconds, or does it start out sagging even a little bit?


NVM... I went back and read again. You already said you get five or six good strong cranking cycles from a full charge. I don't think it's the battery.

Yeah it cranks over just like it would normally to fire. And I can keep doing that 5 or 6 times. I press the button, foot on clutch (or the accelerator too if trying to anti flood), press the button and it will crank over continuously for like.. 5 seconds before stopping automatically. I can repeat this process about 5 times and then it goes sluggish.. then battery dead.

I can hook up jumpers to a running vehicle. And it doesn't make much difference. I think continuously cranking it drains the battery faster than the jumper can charge it up.

Everything is basically pointing to plugs. I will remove one and do a test with the coil pack out with a test plug and see if I can see spark or not.

Possibly a dumb question but since I don't have any spare 86 plug.. can I just pop any plug into the coil pack to test it? (With it out of the engine I mean).

[Ultramaroon]

Start here

[blsfrs]

If you have access to a hot battery, put it in and try it. Nothing to lose. Probably not the problem but you've got to rule out all possibilities.

[Ashikabi]

Originally Posted by tzbang

Yeah it cranks over just like it would normally to fire. And I can keep doing that 5 or 6 times. I press the button, foot on clutch (or the accelerator too if trying to anti flood), press the button and it will crank over continuously for like.. 5 seconds before stopping automatically. I can repeat this process about 5 times and then it goes sluggish.. then battery dead.



I can hook up jumpers to a running vehicle. And it doesn't make much difference. I think continuously cranking it drains the battery faster than the jumper can charge it up.



Everything is basically pointing to plugs. I will remove one and do a test with the coil pack out with a test plug and see if I can see spark or not.



Possibly a dumb question but since I don't have any spare 86 plug.. can I just pop any plug into the coil pack to test it? (With it out of the engine I mean).

Yes any plug will fire with your coil pack. Assuming it physically fits

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[tzbang]

Well I pulled 2 of the plugs in the weekend from the easy side. I use the term 'easy' lightly as it was actually quite ridiculous I had to break my arms in 2 places to be able to access them. The other side looks basically impossible without jacking the motor up.

Here are the two plugs.. yeah pretty crappy looking. But I wouldn't have thought they wouldn't spark at all. I cleaned one and put it back into the coilpack and cranked it over. It sparked. I'll put new ones in though.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by tzbang

Here are the two plugs.. yeah pretty crappy looking. But I wouldn't have thought they wouldn't spark at all. I cleaned one and put it back into the coilpack and cranked it over. It sparked. I'll put new ones in though.

Looks to be running a bit rich but otherwise fine. Might even be just because it was still cold when it last ran. Not flooded.

Go back to my last post and do it by the book. Tedious, but it will get you there. You'll need a multimeter, the OBD2 adapter for techstream, a laptop, and the software.

Or flatbed it to a shop.

[tzbang]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Looks to be running a bit rich but otherwise fine. Might even be just because it was still cold when it last ran. Not flooded.

Go back to my last post and do it by the book. Tedious, but it will get you there. You'll need a multimeter, the OBD2 adapter for techstream, a laptop, and the software.

Or flatbed it to a shop.

yeah cheers, since I've got 2 new plugs in I might as well do the other side and see what happens and go from there.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by tzbang

yeah cheers, since I've got 2 new plugs in I might as well do the other side and see what happens and go from there.

Keep us posted. Fingers crossed.